Stewart says US can't take military action against North Korea off the table

Non intervention is the best foreign policy. Anybody who thinks differently can
enlist and fight these pointless wars themselves.

Jim CheeKa'anapali, HI

April 19, 2017 10:48 a.m.

Thid Barker - Victor, IDApril 18, 2017 2:14 p.m.

"Fact:
Hitler attacked the Brits only a short time after he signed a peace agreement!
"

Wrong! Get your history right and then you will have some
semblance of credibility. Hitler signed a peace treaty with the Soviet Union,
then both attacked Poland. Germany argued that Polish forces attacked a German
outpost (which was a German-conducted attack to blame Poland) and the Soviets
argued that they took over half of Poland to protect the Poles.

The
idea of attacking North Korea is completely absurd. Not only do South Korea and
Japan suffer the brunt of any aggression, but China and Russia are allies of
North Korea to some extent. Sure, North Korea and Kim Jong-Un get wiped off the
face of the earth, but millions pay for Donald Trump's bravado and
hubris.

And remember, Trump is he a blow hard, lacking in any
semblance of curiosity about the world, completely ignorant of history, and has
the need for attention and immediate gratification typical of many
authoritarians. In that respect, he shares much with Jong-Un. Both have the
temperament of children with the ability to wage nuclear war.

GaryOVirginia Beach, VA

April 19, 2017 10:36 a.m.

Hey Thid Barker -

RE: "Fact: Hitler attacked the Brits only a
short time after he signed a peace agreement! "

WRONG

Germany attacked Britain only after Britain declared war on Germany.

RE: "Will liberals ever learn ANYTHING from history about dealing
with dictators?"

Face it: It's not Liberals who are
incapable of learning. Is it?

one voteSalt Lake City, UT

April 19, 2017 9:05 a.m.

He should investigate why the Administration misdescribed the Aircraft
carrier's mission. t was was said to be on the table while cruising off the
table. The South Koreans are perplexed.

LOU MontanaPueblo, CO

April 19, 2017 7:01 a.m.

@casual observer: You are right it was kind of silly to have a red line in the
sand. Trump simply calls his ol-friend Putin hours in advance to let him know
our military is going to bomb an empty air field to make sure that none of
Putin's planes are in the area because we don't want to upset him
because we are going to give Putin a show of force to let him know his other
puppet has upset the civilized world.

America just loves how Trump
clears everything with Putin before he takes actions. It is the right thing to
do and the GOP approves this.

PamFlindersSandy, UT

April 19, 2017 12:23 a.m.

Talking like this is madness. Rep Stewart should have to send his loved
ones to the front lines if he is so hot on this idea. Trump has sons, why
aren't they in the military? I come from a military family and know the
sacrifices involved. If you don't have any skin in the game, you
shouldn't get to vote for war.

The United States gains nothing
by a pre-emptive strike except an expensive land war in Asia. The best course of
action is the same one we have had for the last 70 years: wait it out and ignore
the blustering.

casual observerSalt Lake City, UT

April 18, 2017 5:29 p.m.

It's generally good strategy to keep the enemy guessing. Mr. Obama
didn't need to announce taking an action off the table, our enemies assumed
that in the first place after the red line became meaningless.

Jim CheeKa'anapali, HI

April 18, 2017 4:40 p.m.

Thid Barker - Victor, IDApril 17, 2017 7:22 p.m.

"In 1942
Neville Chamberlain declared Hitler was no threat to the world either!"

In 1942, England had already been at war with Germany for three years.
Again, your understanding of history is way off the mark. Churchill was prime
minister and the United States had already landed in North Africa fighting
Rommel's forces.

Neville Chamberlain participated in the Munich
Agreement in 1938 and negotiated with Germany over parts of Czechoslovakia to
maintain peace in Europe. This failed. A year later, Germany invaded Poland and
England was at war with Germany.

Thid, your credibility is zilch.

Barb WireUSA, UT

April 18, 2017 2:55 p.m.

Thousands of conventional weapons pointed at South Korea and Japan say
otherwise. Millions would be killed...North Korea is a formidable enemy,
nuclear weapons or not. A political solution or more sanctions are the only
solution. A Republican zest for war isn't worth millions of lives.

Ernest T. BassBountiful, UT

April 18, 2017 2:49 p.m.

Just like the last time an (r) was in the White House, the (r)s in Utah are all
in favor of war but then they send their kids to byu-Idaho and UVU instead of to
the military.They wage war while cutting taxes and the (r)s then complain
about paying taxes or they blame the (D) who occupies the White House who
actually tries to responsibly account for the war/tax cut deficits.It's just how it is. The (r)s wage war with other people's children
and other people's money.

hbeckettColfax, CA

April 18, 2017 2:40 p.m.

I am a rep by choice and I have served so just get off the war and fighting
trip

Thid BarkerVictor, ID

April 18, 2017 2:14 p.m.

@ Prag: You sound just like Abbott and Costello arguing about who is on first!
Fact: Hitler attacked the Brits only a short time after he signed a peace
agreement! Will liberals ever learn ANYTHING from history about dealing with
dictators? I doubt it! Why do you think Kim Jong Un, is testing ICBMs and doing
nuclear detonations? He has repeatedly said he will use them against the US and
our allies! If he does, YOU will blame President Trump for not preventing it!
That is guaranteed!

UtahTroutStalkerDraper, UT

April 18, 2017 1:50 p.m.

@Thid Barker " In 1942 Neville Chamberlain declared Hitler was no threat to
the world either! Opps! And Hitler didn't have nukes but Kim Jong Un does
and is testing ballistic missiles to deliver them in right in your lap! You
should feel a lot of danger! President Trump is much wiser than Chamberlain.
"

Thid, you making up the "facts" as you write them?

So far all I hear is a bunch of talk about how Obama was weak for his
stance on strategic patience. When pressed on the question of what they would
do if N. Korea crosses that "line in the sand" and test a ICBM.
Crickets.......

It is easier to criticize than lead isn't it
Donald? Such a sad little POTUS we have.

Fred44Salt Lake City, Utah

April 18, 2017 1:18 p.m.

Has anybody else noticed that all the aggressive military action and talk
started after he failed to deliver on any of his domestic promises that he would
have done in the first 100 days? I don't think it is a coincidence. One
of the things that should scare us all is what all his friends say about him,
that he likes to win. His domestic agenda is a loser, so he had to turn to
somewhere where he could win so he wants a temporary win using the military as
his toys.

Open Minded MormonEverett, 00

April 18, 2017 12:27 p.m.

It's seems Donald Trump and his minions want WWIII - and killing more
innocent lives than in all the wars, and all the abortions, in all
of history - combined!

Nice going, pubs.anything for a buck,
and anything for ratings....

dave4197Redding, CA

April 18, 2017 12:27 p.m.

Balderdash to the war mongers and to people like Stewart and the DT. We, the
US, have barnstormed this NKorea problem for the past 60 years or so. I am in
my 70's, I served? my country in SVietNam, I've worked and paid taxes,
now I call out our gov't to defuse this NKorea problem. It is not lost on
me that decades after we left SVietNam there is now an LDS mission in VietNam.
There are other paths to follow than war.The NKorea problem is difficult,
I grant that. We alone are not the solution, nor the policeman, nor the
referee. We need to back way off the war like rhetoric, war games, war machine,
imho. GHW Bush gathered nations before going into Kuwait, there's an
example there. The place and time to best deal with NKorea is within a group of
regional interests. We have no interest in making war again on the Korean
peninsula.Let's emphasize that our "table" includes the
removal of US armaments from the Korean peninsula, and the region. Of course
with buy-in from regional interests and of course as part of an agreement by
which we verify NKorea stops making nuclear arms.But today the DT tosses
threats of war on a volatile situation. Learn something, DT.

KarenLaRae2Taylorsville, UT

April 18, 2017 11:57 a.m.

The problem is that Kim Jong-un would have no problem ordering a nuclear strike.
This is the guy who allowed millions of his citizens to starve to death while he
put all his country's assets into the military. This is the guy who sends
the entire family to concentration camps if one family member commits a
misdemeanor. This is the guy who has had his own family members killed. You
don't play "chicken" with an armed madman!

HutteriteAmerican Fork, UT

April 18, 2017 11:56 a.m.

Why does this come off as an exercise to 'out crazy' the North
Koreans? Sure, we're going to rain hell on them if they use nuclear
weapons. Well, how about if they use conventional or chemical weapons, or simply
invade South Korea? How many South Korean dead, and for that matter DPRK dead,
are acceptable in the continuation of the Korean conflict? It's one
thing to respond to the conflict. Another to encourage it. Another again to
cause it.

one old manOgden, UT

April 18, 2017 11:46 a.m.

Two unstable "leaders" facing off with nuclear weapons as their toys.

We could be one stupid tweet away from Armageddon.

RC in WJWEST JORDAN, UT

April 18, 2017 11:25 a.m.

Basically what we have is two children with bad haircuts running countries, who
want to play army with their tin soldiers!

TekakaromatagiDammam, Saudi Arabia

April 18, 2017 11:11 a.m.

"We need to get our head out of the sand. North Korea has been the number
one world problem for over 40 years and now they have what it takes to destroy
the world with a nuclear arsenal."

No. Russia, China and Iran
are probably better contenders. No, I didn't like Obama and I am not a
shrill for the Democratic party.

I think that Stewart means if North
Korea attacked South Korea then war is a possibility. We should make that clear
so that North Korea doesn't get in the position that they think they will
be attacked pre-emptively.

Speaking about pre-emptive war. Sure, it
would feel really good to go after some folks and attack them pre-emptively.
But my 4th grade teacher pointed something out to us one day when we went on a
field trip to the zoo. One of my classmates wanted to do something (I forget)
but the teacher made a good point, "What if everybody did that?"

Pre-emptive war? What if everyone did that?

pragmatistferlifesalt lake city, utah

April 18, 2017 10:43 a.m.

Moderate "has been cautiously dealt with by every President since. Including
Republicans {gasp!}"

Absolutely. If we were to preemptively do
anything Seoul and millions of South Koreans would be destroyed before we could
flick another finger.

The distance from North Korea to Seoul is a
moderate bus ride, two beers and one bathroom stop. Been there, done that, and
every President before Trump knew that.

Good news is Trump
doesn't seem to be in charge of international affairs. Best case is China
and Korea are afraid of Trump and broker a deal where the US accepts the current
condition on the basis that there is no further North Korean progress. This in
exchange for concessions.

While this is the best we could hope for,
the problem is the Republicans would have to admit they just signed the Iran
nuclear deal in Korea.

GaryOVirginia Beach, VA

April 18, 2017 10:40 a.m.

RE: "Stewart says US can't take military action against North Korea off
the table"

Military action against North Korea has NEVER been off
the table, babbling Republican politicians notwithstanding.

WHEN was
military action against North Korea "off the table?"

. . .
Under WHAT administration?

The difference now is that we have an
empty-headed billionaire as our Commander in Chief, who doesn't have a CLUE
about how the world works. But his expertise as a swindler tells him that now
is a good time to distract his victims, the American people.

Trump
and Trump alone precipitated an international crisis with North Korea for the
purpose of distracting attention away from all the scandals, all the lies, the
growing kleptocracy, and all the dirty deals inherent to Trump's
Presidency.

North Korea's leader IS a villain no doubt. But OUR
villain, DJ Trump, is much more dangerous to the world than their villain.

Hey Ute Alumni -

RE: "Your ilk and Obama led us to this
point."

Ha! It's funny how the self-described Party of
Personal Responsibility is so shamelessly irresponsible, isn't it?

The GOP is completely full of Trump, isn't it?

EsquireSpringville, UT

April 18, 2017 10:35 a.m.

There's a difference between provoking what seems like an unstable North
Korea regime and merely leaving options open if NK launches an attack. We
shouldn't be playing their tough talking game. It just shows we are as
crazy and immature as the North Koreans. Being a leader doesn't mean
getting into the spitting match with unstable opponents.

@ Thid,
really, comparing this to Neville Chamberlain? Not even the same thing. Read
some real history. So you are calling for war, based on what am reading in your
comments. Ready to enlist? And this time are you calling on the GOP to
actually pay for the next war (raising taxes)? Or are you just spouting empty
rhetoric?

ModerateSalt Lake City, UT

April 18, 2017 10:13 a.m.

ute alumni "Your ilk and Obama led us to this point."Youth raised
on "Call of Duty" think North Korea is just some "go in and blast
stuff" game. You're spoiled by Ronald Reagan overwhelming Grenada or
HW Bush kicking Saddam out of Kuwait. The US doesn't get to impose its
will where ever it wants. We have be careful of trouble spots with big allies
like Iran & Syria (Russia) and North Korea (China).

It is
immature and uneducated to blame Obama for North Korea which became a stalemate
before Obama was born!! North Korea is the very symbol of the Cold War (history
thing -- Google it), and has been cautiously dealt with by every President
since. Including Republicans {gasp!}

"How does china collect on
debt if the US refuses to pay it. "There are some here naively
"guessing" that China doesn't want war with the US because we owe
them money. The money we owe China is a luxury to them. They are a communist
country and can very much afford war if it comes to that. US debt is not a
deterrent to war.

james d. morrisonSandy, UT

April 18, 2017 10:12 a.m.

Attack North Korea ONLY if they actually launch or undeniably try to launch an
attack on South Korea, Japan or the United States. No preemptive actions. They
can't even get a missile off the launch pad.

one voteSalt Lake City, UT

April 18, 2017 9:58 a.m.

This morning on Fox and Friends, The Congressman's hero indicated he does
actually not know who is presently in charge of North Korea. Epically sad.

ShaunSandy, UT

April 18, 2017 9:50 a.m.

My issue with republicans wanting to go to war is their commitment.

Are republicans willing to enlist to fight? If they can not fight are they
willing to forgo their beloved tax cuts to help pay for the war?

It
is easy to make others commit to fight and pay. Haven't republicans told
us that everybody needs to have some skin in the game?

I look forward
to the citizens of Utah having the highest enlistment rate in the near future to
back up their rhetoric.

pragmatistferlifesalt lake city, utah

April 18, 2017 9:44 a.m.

Thid.."Chamberlain had a meeting with Hitler and came home with a "peace
treaty agreement" signed by Hitler that he waved in the air and said, "I
have made peace with Hitler and is no longer a threat"

No Thid he
said; "My good friends, this is the second time there has come back from
Germany to Downing Street peace with honour. I believe it is peace for our time.
We thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Now I recommend you go home, and
sleep quietly in your beds. "

Big difference between he's no
longer a threat and I "believe" we have peace.

Again,
it's absolutely ignorant of history to not understand that one, Hitler was
demanding reclamation of previous German territory and citizens and that
secondly England would have been crushed by a war in 1938. Lastly it was
Chamberlain who led Britain to war against Hitler.

Thid, your
personal interpretation of history is vastly wanting, and I suggest you continue
your chant for war from Seoul. it would be eye opening.

JimInSLCSalt Lake City, UT

April 18, 2017 8:35 a.m.

Rep. Stewart, you took an oath to protect and defend the Constitution. Why are
you silent while the President unconstitutionally commit acts of war without a
declaration of war by Congress? Maybe you need a refresher course in
Constitution 101. I hope that Utah voters elect someone in your place that
keeps their oath.

Same goes for all others sent to Congress to
represent the people of Utah if they are not true to the oath that they took.

FTsalt lake city, UT

April 18, 2017 8:33 a.m.

America first? Historians have already concluded Trump's first 100 days
have been the worst of any President in the modern history. Why would the next
3 years be any different. He is what he is and the world is holding their
breath and hoping he stays in Mar a Largo on our dime even more so than he has.

RanchHandHuntsville, UT

April 18, 2017 8:20 a.m.

So much for the "pro-life" crowd!

Prometheus PlatypusOrem, UT

April 18, 2017 7:58 a.m.

Million claims: "We need to get our head out of the sand. North Korea has
been the number one world problem for over 40 years and now they have what it
takes to destroy the world with a nuclear arsenal."

Not even
close to the worlds biggest problem, and how do you destroy the world when you
can't hardly get your bombs off the ground?

Another
conservative warhawk listening to entertainers who never served their country,
rant on about Obama causing all the worlds grief. Sad!

Stewart are
you enlisting, are any of your relatives enlisted or are you just another GOP
leader who leads from behind?

Utah Girl ChroniclesEagle Mountain, UT

April 18, 2017 7:45 a.m.

Rep. Stewart should not be making comments like "missiles would rain the
hell down." That's beyond irresponsible. We're not talking about
some kind of video game here.

Thid BarkerVictor, ID

April 18, 2017 7:43 a.m.

@ Marxist: Hogwash: Chamberlain had a meeting with Hitler and came home with a
"peace treaty agreement" signed by Hitler that he waved in the air and
said, "I have made peace with Hitler and is no longer a threat"! Such
agreements with dictators, as in Chamberlain's case, was worthless and the
rest is history as Hitler attacked England, not the other way around! The only
thing that stopped Hitler, was force! Some people learn nothing from history,
therefore, they are doomed to repeat it, N. Korea included! Only force will stop
Kim Jong Un, period! Wiser people are trying to stop HIM from starting WWWIII
Other's like Chamberlain (usually liberals), believe the Hitlers of the
world are not really a threat! We either stop him now or stop him after he
starts a war! If you see any other option, please, by all means, let us know!

Million Bluffdale, UT

April 18, 2017 7:34 a.m.

We need to get our head out of the sand. North Korea has been the number one
world problem for over 40 years and now they have what it takes to destroy the
world with a nuclear arsenal. Obama administration just placated and let their
menace continue until they are out of control. They have already said they want
to bomb the United States. Isn't that an act of war?

one voteSalt Lake City, UT

April 18, 2017 7:32 a.m.

Much easier to set in armchair or keyboard and say go to war, then actually
starting one endangering millions in South Korea and Japan. The congressman is
playing to the hate Obama crowd that never had to deal with reality. His far
right radical base will be gone when he seeks reelection.

ute alumniSLC, UT

April 18, 2017 7:08 a.m.

ModerateHow does china collect on debt if the US refuses to pay it. Your
ilk and Obama led us to this point. Along with bush and clinton. Moderation with
killers doesn't work ask isis, nazis, pol pot, edi amin ......

What in Tucket?Provo, UT

April 18, 2017 6:53 a.m.

I do not believe Mr. Trump has any intention of a war with NK. Mr. Stewart may
not know that NK has more than 1,000 cannon aimed at Seoul. Seoul is only a few
miles from the NK border. The US 155mm gun ranges 12 miles with the usual round
and 25 miles with a finned shell. This is well within the North Korea border.
Thus thousands if not several million might die as a result of the barrage and
nuclear weapons would not be needed. In a standup fight the South Korea army
would win. Seoul itself is over 10 million. I suspect Trump's
plan is to pressure China with trade deals. This would be very effective. Of
course he wants to give the "Impression" that he would use force. The
force he used against Assad was not to dethrone him, but to warm him not to use
poison gas. It would not be wise to put Assad aside. He is protecting
Christians and other minorities. Better for a smaller Syria for him, a
Kurdistan, etc.

LOU MontanaPueblo, CO

April 18, 2017 5:46 a.m.

Republicans are willing to go to war but take a look who have not served in the
military; Donald J. Trump: did not serveJared Kushner: did not
serveMitch McConnell: Did not serveKarl Rove: Did not serveNewt Gingrich: Did not serveDick Cheney: Did not serveRudy
Giuliani: Did not serveJohn Bolton – no serviceLindsey Graham:
National Guard lawyerDennis Hastert: Did not serveTim Hutchison: Did
not serveRick Santorum: Did not servePaul Wolfowitz: Did not
serveCondi Rice – no servicePat Buchanan: Did not serveAnn Coulter: Did not serveCharlie Daniels: Did not serveSean
Hannity: Did not serveBill Kristol: Did not serveRush Limbaugh: Did
not serveChris Matthews: Did not serveMichael Medved: Did not
serveTed Nugent: Did not serveBill O'Reilly: Did not serveMichael Savage: Did not serveAntonin Scalia: Did not serveKenneth
Starr: Did not serveClarence Thomas: Did not serveGeorge Will: Did
not serveRoger Ailes (Fox) – Did not serveAnne Coulter –
Did not serve

marxistSalt Lake City, UT

April 18, 2017 12:23 a.m.

@Thid Barker " In 1942 Neville Chamberlain declared Hitler was no threat to
the world either! Opps! And Hitler didn't have nukes but Kim Jong Un does
and is testing ballistic missiles to deliver them in right in your lap! You
should feel a lot of danger! President Trump is much wiser than Chamberlain.
"

Chamberlain never said any such thing. BTW, Chamberlain died
of cancer in 1940.

In defense of Chamberlain Britain was not
prepared in any way for another European war. Britain's horrible
experience in World War I militated against going to war again. Chamberlain
bought time until Britain could arm itself.

ModerateSalt Lake City, UT

April 17, 2017 11:10 p.m.

"If the Chinese lose their US market their entire country goes down the
tubes."The Chinese have a world wide economy. It is naive to think
that the Chinese would not risk war with the US, because America is a large
client.

Using that logic, the Union would have not declared war on
the Confederacy, because the South was the North's biggest client.

The US is dependent on the Chinese, not the other way around. If the US
strikes North Korea, China wouldn't have go to war, because they could
crush us economically. Their response would be A) cut off products from
the US marketB) collect on the billions of dollars that we owe them.

Even if we wanted to buy products from other markets, we couldn't
because we'd be bankrupt paying back our debt. We'd have poor credit
with other nations. In other words, exactly what the Union did to the
Confederacy.

KJRSequim, WA

April 17, 2017 9:17 p.m.

So, it looks like most of the comments are about "keeping the peace" --
and condemning 25 million innocent North Koreans to more famine, oppression, and
isolation. All while KJU ignores the promises he made to stop nuclear
development in return for food and other aid. In the long run we would probably
risk fewer lives by taking him out now. I don't recommend that, but if we
defend KJU because he's only bluffing . . .don't we get to bluff too?
The Chinese must eventually step up because if they lose their US market their
entire country goes down the tubes. As a speaker of Korean that has read the
Kim family ramblings (you would not believe them!) and spoken to North Korean
refugees, I think that we are playing this a lot better than we did during the
Obama Chamberlain years. "Pease in our time" (and nukes down the road?)

xertSanta Monica, CA

April 17, 2017 8:50 p.m.

Since Republicans constantly use phrases like "playing this just right"
and "I like the way the President is playing this," maybe it's time
to remind ourselves that global nuclear war is not a game and let's face
it--even if it were, anybody feel like playing Twister with Kimmy and Donnie?

one voteSalt Lake City, UT

April 17, 2017 8:03 p.m.

How much will that huge war cost?

Thomas ThompsonSALT LAKE CITY, UT

April 17, 2017 7:35 p.m.

Why do our Republicans -- virtually across the board -- seem so anxious to lead
us into World War III? True, it really would be, this time, the "war to end
all wars." But that's because it would be the end of all of us. Rep.
Stewart needs to read Nevil Shute's "On the Beach," for a rather
different view of things.

Thid BarkerVictor, ID

April 17, 2017 7:22 p.m.

@ LDS liberal: In 1942 Neville Chamberlain declared Hitler was no threat to the
world either! Opps! And Hitler didn't have nukes but Kim Jong Un does and
is testing ballistic missiles to deliver them in right in your lap! You should
feel a lot of danger! President Trump is much wiser than Chamberlain. Think of
the millions of lives that could have been saved if Chamberlain had been half as
wise as President Trump!

LDS LiberalFarmington, UT

April 17, 2017 6:47 p.m.

Now, though, China is "reaching a threshold now where they realize this is
A) very dangerous, and B), that it's very unpredictable," Stewart
said

====

Is that due to Kim Jon Un, or Donald J.
Trump?

I'm 60 years old.I've NEVER once in my life
felt danger from North Korea's President, but I do now from ours!